Engaging the Clergy in Addressing the Impact of Partner Violence in their Faith Communities

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Researchers assembled three clergy focus groups in Upstate New York in order to expand on the results of an earlier study (Horwitz, 2002 Horwitz, S. 2002. Community‐wide professional response to partner violence (Doctoral dissertation, The Union Institute and University, 2002).. Dissertation Abstracts International, 63: 1609 [Google Scholar]) regarding community professionals' attitudes and beliefs about PV. The purpose of this study was to (1) identify how clergy address partner violence (PV), (2) assist in defining the clergy's scope of practice, and (3) understand the dynamics behind clergy reluctance to participate with community providers in ending PV. Participant responses to a series of questions were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed using ATLAS.ti. Findings elucidated (a) competing value systems that clergy experience, (b) their responsibilities for addressing PV in their congregations, (c) limitations and barriers to identifying and intervening in PV, and (d) helpful strategies for dealing with PV.